There's a new scary climate change report out today. The gist: Climate change is getting worse, it's our fault, and some of it is irreversible. The report says that if carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases continue to be emitted at the current rate, it's likely that by 2100, temperatures could be about 6.7 degrees warmer. Though it wouldn't occur for hundreds of years, the huge sheet of ice over Greenland could melt entirely, leading to as much as a 23-foot rise in world ocean levels, leaving many coastal cities underwater.

An iceberg melts in Kulusuk, Greenland, near the arctic circle.(Photo: John Mcconnico, AP)

Audio recording reveals pause that may be a new clue in Michael Brown's shooting

We're not sure if it's real yet, but an audio recording released Tuesday morning may shed light on Michael Brown's death. The tape, which was given to CNN, allegedly contains audio captured during a Ferguson resident's video chat at the time of the shooting. CNN says the authenticity of the tape hasn't been verified, but what appears to be gunfire can be heard in the background of the call. As many as 10 shot-like sounds can be heard. Several shots are fired in what appears to be fairly quick succession. There is a brief pause, then more shots are fired. An autopsy concluded that Brown, 18, was shot six times, with two fatal shots to the head.

Family members of slain teenager Michael Brown touch the vault containing his casket during his funeral on Aug. 25 in Normandy, Mo. Hundreds of people attended Brown's funeral. The teen was shot and killed by a Ferguson, Mo., police officer on Aug. 9. Robert Cohen, St. Louis Post Dispatch, via AP

People attend the funeral of slain teenager Michael Brown on Aug. 25 at the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. Brown was shot and killed on Aug. 9 by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. Pool photo by Robert Cohen

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American extremist Douglas McAuthur McCain dies fighting for Islamic State

Douglas McAuthur McCain, 33, of San Diego, was reportedly killed over the weekend fighting for the Islamic State. The State Department said it couldn't confirm the death. CNN, however, reported that McCain's uncle, Ken McCain, said the State Department informed the family Monday of McCain's death. Ken McCain told CNN the family was "devastated" and "just as surprised as the country" to learn of his nephew's participation with IS. Ken McCain said his nephew converted from Christianity to Islam several years ago. There are posters on McCain's Facebook photo page with a Muslim theme, including an "I (heart) Allah." Another is called "Soldiers of Allah" and shows what appear to be desert warriors striding toward the light under the headline, "They are coming back."

It was a full-scale mid-air meltdown over leg room. During a United Airlines flight from Newark to Denver, a man seated in the Economy Plus section, which offers four more inches of leg room than other coach seats, was using a $21.95 gadget called a Knee Defender to stop the woman seated in front of him from reclining her seat. A flight attendant asked the man to remove the device. He refused. Then things got heated. The woman who couldn't recline her seat got so mad that she threw a cup of water at the Knee Defender user. No one was arrested. The Federal Aviation Administration doesn't prohibit the use of the Knee Defender, but United Airlines, like most other major U.S. airlines, doesn't allow devices that prevent seats from reclining. USA TODAY's editorial board weighed in on the fight.

The little gadget started a huge mid-air brawl and caused a United Airlines flight to be diverted.
(USA NEWS, USA TODAY)

Burger King's merger with Tim Hortons spurs #BoycottBurgerKing

Burger King is ruling a larger fast-food kingdom, and some of its subjects aren't happy. The U.S.-based restaurant chain announced Tuesday that it agreed to merge with the Canada-based Tim Hortons restaurant chain. The $11 billion deal will create the world's third-largest quick-service restaurant company. The new global company will be headquartered in Canada, which could allow Burger King (BKW) to reduce its U.S. tax bill. The merger quickly was lumped into the growing public outcry over tax inversions, which allow U.S. companies to lower their tax bills by reincorporating in a country with lower corporate tax rates through a merger with a foreign firm. Several thousand comments flooded Burger King's Facebook page Tuesday. On Twitter, #TimHortons was a trending topic with #BoycottBurgerKing.

Truce? After a seven-week war that has left more than 2,200 dead, Israel and Hamas accepted an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire Tuesday. This time, there's no time limit. Residents in Gaza celebrated with gunfire and chants. The cease-fire includes an agreement to open border crossings between Gaza and Israel to allow the flow of humanitarian relief, assistance and materials for reconstruction in Gaza. Palestinians will also be allowed to fish in an area up to six miles off the Gaza coast into the Mediterranean, up from three miles. Both sides are going to keep up indirect talks in Egypt to hash out other concerns, like building a seaport and airport in Gaza, and Israel's demand that Hamas disarm.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. "strongly supported" the cease-fire agreement and asked all sides to comply with their terms after other cease-fires had broken down. (Aug. 26)
AP

Gabriel Medina of Brazil surfs a wave as he wins the prestigious Billabong Pro Tahiti at Teahupo'o. Medina defeated 11-time world champion Kelly Slater from the USA to claim his third win of the 2014 season.(Photo: Kirstin Scholtz for ASP International via European Pressphoto Agency)

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A chef in China cut off the head of a cobra to dice its body for soup he was making. Twenty minutes later, the chef went to toss the head in the trash. It was still functioning. It bit him. He died. We have no words for this story.